Page last updated on February 23,

Location:
Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Geographic coordinates:
47 00 N, 29 00 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 33,851 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 140
land: 32,891 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 960 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries:
total: 1,390 km
border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 940 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
moderate winters, warm summers
More Climate Details

Terrain:
rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dniester (Nistru) 2 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - highest point country ranks ]

Natural resources:
lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone

Land use:
arable land: 54.52%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 8.81%
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
other: 36.67% (2005)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
2,283 sq km (2008)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Total renewable water resources:
11.7 cu km (1997)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.31 cu km/yr (10%/58%/33%)
[see also: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) - total country ranks ]
per capita: 549 cu m/yr (2000)
[see also: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) - per capita country ranks ]

Natural hazards:
landslides

Environment - current issues:
heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone